OK I know I have only been GF 5 days now but I realised today I am not bloated, I am definitely not passing wind like I was and most importantly I have no pain!!! Having got used to almost chronic pain up my right side, I suddenly realised driving home from work that I am pain free!! Could the GF diet work that quickly? Or is this just a lucky coincidence and/or placebo effect?
Anne
Placebo or really working?
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fatbuster205
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Hi Anne,
Yes, it can work that quickly for some people. Since you are Irish, I kind of expect your recent upper endoscopy exam to show that you also have celiac disease, and that may be one reason why you are responding so quickly to the diet.
Since you're responding so soon, that should be pretty convincing evidence for your doctors that diet changes are the key to your recovery. Your training program for them is off to a great start.
Tex
Yes, it can work that quickly for some people. Since you are Irish, I kind of expect your recent upper endoscopy exam to show that you also have celiac disease, and that may be one reason why you are responding so quickly to the diet.
Since you're responding so soon, that should be pretty convincing evidence for your doctors that diet changes are the key to your recovery. Your training program for them is off to a great start.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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fatbuster205
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- Location: Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Hi Anne,
Deb is right on target with the reason why I suspect that you will probably be diagnosed with celiac disease. IMO, it boils down to whether or not you have a celiac gene. If you do, you are very likely to be diagnosed with the disease, and if you don't have a celiac gene, they you have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, instead.
Celiac disease is probably the main reason why potatoes were historically a major part of the diet in Ireland's past, but that's just a guess.
Tex
Deb is right on target with the reason why I suspect that you will probably be diagnosed with celiac disease. IMO, it boils down to whether or not you have a celiac gene. If you do, you are very likely to be diagnosed with the disease, and if you don't have a celiac gene, they you have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, instead.
Celiac disease is probably the main reason why potatoes were historically a major part of the diet in Ireland's past, but that's just a guess.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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fatbuster205
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- Location: Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Without stirring up a political debate (and I do not intend insulting anyone over history) I think that was mainly down to the rich landowners having the best land and exporting the grains to England! Potatoes are easy to grow on very poor land - I grow them in buckets!! -and so they became a staple as a result. But that aside, Deb's statistics of the Irish having the highest incidence is astounding but could be the result of potato rather than grain being the staple in the diet and therefore sensitivity is higher because the population wasn't as used to grains? Now I am guessing but it is fascinating given that we also reputedly have the weakest teeth in the world! That too was put down to the famines of the 1840s but again whether that is the truth I don't know! I would have thought by now our teeth would be as good as anyone else's - but as most of mine are filled despite my best efforts I guess not!!tex wrote:
Celiac disease is probably the main reason why potatoes were historically a major part of the diet in Ireland's past, but that's just a guess.
Tex
Glad to report I am still doing great and today - just one Norman!!! Rock on!!!
Anne
Hi, The country with the highest incidence of celiac disease and gluten intolerance is Morroco. Since they are a poor country they get surplus wheat from the wheat producing countries. The rate is 1 in 22 people have celiac disease. In Italy everybody gets tested for celiac disease at approx. six years of age. Jon
Anne,
Yes, I've seen the stories about wheat exports during that time period, and it's certainly possible that may have been the sole reason why potatoes were so prominent in the Irish diet. A few hundred years (or a few thousand years) of eating potatoes won't have any evolutionary effect on genetics, so it couldn't make anyone more vulnerable to gluten sensitivity. Eating potatoes could, however, eliminate the symptoms of gluten sensitivity as long as gluten was being avoided.
Be that as it may, remember this quote, from page 106 (chapter 9) in the book?
2. Cohen, M. N. (1984). Paleopathology at the origins of agriculture. Waltham, MA: Academic Press.
And here is reference #3 from that quote:
3. Rashid, M., Zarkadas, M., Anca, A., & Limeback, H. (2011). Oral manifestations of celiac disease: A clinical guide for dentists. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 77(1), b39. Retrieved from http://www.jcda.ca/article/b39/
From reference #3:
Kudos for your progress report.
Tex
Yes, I've seen the stories about wheat exports during that time period, and it's certainly possible that may have been the sole reason why potatoes were so prominent in the Irish diet. A few hundred years (or a few thousand years) of eating potatoes won't have any evolutionary effect on genetics, so it couldn't make anyone more vulnerable to gluten sensitivity. Eating potatoes could, however, eliminate the symptoms of gluten sensitivity as long as gluten was being avoided.
Be that as it may, remember this quote, from page 106 (chapter 9) in the book?
Here is reference #2 from that quote:The archaeological evidence shows that as agricultural production replaced hunting and gathering as a way of life, 19 out of 21 societies experienced declining health due to an increase in dental problems and infections, along with increasing nutritional deficiencies.2 Dental problems — what does that remind us of? It suggests celiac disease, since untreated gluten sensitivity is notorious for damaging the enamel of teeth, leading to decay.3
2. Cohen, M. N. (1984). Paleopathology at the origins of agriculture. Waltham, MA: Academic Press.
And here is reference #3 from that quote:
3. Rashid, M., Zarkadas, M., Anca, A., & Limeback, H. (2011). Oral manifestations of celiac disease: A clinical guide for dentists. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 77(1), b39. Retrieved from http://www.jcda.ca/article/b39/
From reference #3:
This is an additional indicator that you probably have celiac disease. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, though, because gluten also did a number on my teeth, (it's another reason why I'm pretty sure that I also have undiagnosed celiac disease).Dental enamel defects and recurrent aphthous ulcers, which may occur in patients with celiac disease, may be the only manifestation of this disorder. When dentists encounter these features, they should enquire about other clinical symptoms, associated disorders and family history of celiac disease. In suspected cases, the patient or family physician should be advised to obtain serologic screening for celiac disease and, if positive, confirmation of the diagnosis by intestinal biopsy. Dentists can play an important role in identifying people who may have unrecognized celiac disease.
Kudos for your progress report.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Anne, I'm so happy you are able to see such noticiable changes in such a short period of time! That should help you with sticking with your plan. I've been GF for almost a year now and haven't had the same results as you but have seen slow improvements that will make me stay GF for life. It's great to hear such good news.
I'm Irish too.
I'm Irish too.
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fatbuster205
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Thank you so much Deb! I suspect some of the improvement is also due to coming off the Asacol - that definitely appeared to be causing me issues! But I have genuinely noticed the lack of bloating, gas and pain!! And that is just this week. I did have slight pain today - but I was also really hungry!! I was chatting to a colleague at work who is wheat intolerant (our CEO retired, so big do - all I could eat was fruit and cheese!) and she said she saw a significant difference when she cut wheat out! Still very early days but book number 3 arrived today - it is going to my GP (his Christmas pressie!) - my mission to educate my Doctors is still on track!
Anne
Anne
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jessica329
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Among diagnosed celiacs it is known that bowel issues respond very rapid to a GF diet. (as can diet faults do the reverse in only hours)
Pathologically it takes a bit longer according to this citing from Wikipedia:
Pathologically it takes a bit longer according to this citing from Wikipedia:
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-gliadin_antibodiesWhat is the relationship of gluten and anti-gliadin antibodies?. In gluten-sensitive individuals AGA testing is a routinely used blood test for possible presence of coeliac disease, allergies or idiopathic phenomena. The measurement of AGA is done with ELISA or radioimmunoassay. Such tests measure the level of AGA relative to a standard, such as a level of 10 = point which 85% of normal population falls below. Greater than 10 equals disease and a value of 3 is expected (mean).
Individuals who have coeliac disease may have values in excess of 200. There is the common expectation that removal of gluten results in the loss of AGA; however, since gluten is the target of the antibodies, that which would deplete them from the body, removal of gluten results in the benign circulation of antibodies. The half life of these antibodies is typically 120 days. Given an expected normal of 3 and assuming that the individual starts with a score of 203, we can predict the levels of AGA at various future time points. Based on these initial numbers, patients with very high AGA values may take 2 years to return to the normal range.
Here's a thought: some patients make doctors better...
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fatbuster205
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Haven't heard anything yet from the hospital (which is normal) but am continuing my GF diet and have spent the day cooking. 
I now have about a month's worth of "ready meals" in the freezers! All GF obviously! And I sourced some corn cakes - like rice cakes - so thought I would give them a go! Over the next couple of weeks my focus will be lunch - definitely the biggest challenge! I am starting to realise that the difficult bit of going GF is "packed" lunches. I am going to talk to the manager of the canteen to see about options 
. But while still fatigued, I feel better than I have in months, and the fatigue isn't as bad as it was!
What I am suffering from at the moment is very itchy skin (for a few weeks now) - I have dry skin (not flaky) and periodically it flares - I don't know what triggers it but it is really annoying. My right hand has an area of tiny pin prick blood "spots" - not raised, but if I scratch it just extends the area! Could this be a symptom as well? I look at my 84 year old Dad, and have to tell him not to scratch! - and yet there are times I literally draw blood scratching!
All that said I am continuing to do well ( 1 x Norman!!!!) today!!! Obviously it is still early days! Do I regret waiting for endorsement from my Doctors? Yes and No! My way is bringing them with me - longer term support and hopefully of benefit to others as well! But had I known how one week GF would make me feel so much better......!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I made my decision, and I don't regret it!! I really believe that we need to work with our Doctors to educate them - but I appreciate that some have Dinosaurs - I am really lucky there! But if my Doctors decide to listen, read etc and then write papers...... Who knows!
Anne
I now have about a month's worth of "ready meals" in the freezers! All GF obviously! And I sourced some corn cakes - like rice cakes - so thought I would give them a go! Over the next couple of weeks my focus will be lunch - definitely the biggest challenge! I am starting to realise that the difficult bit of going GF is "packed" lunches. I am going to talk to the manager of the canteen to see about options . But while still fatigued, I feel better than I have in months, and the fatigue isn't as bad as it was!What I am suffering from at the moment is very itchy skin (for a few weeks now) - I have dry skin (not flaky) and periodically it flares - I don't know what triggers it but it is really annoying. My right hand has an area of tiny pin prick blood "spots" - not raised, but if I scratch it just extends the area! Could this be a symptom as well? I look at my 84 year old Dad, and have to tell him not to scratch! - and yet there are times I literally draw blood scratching!
All that said I am continuing to do well ( 1 x Norman!!!!) today!!! Obviously it is still early days! Do I regret waiting for endorsement from my Doctors? Yes and No! My way is bringing them with me - longer term support and hopefully of benefit to others as well! But had I known how one week GF would make me feel so much better......!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I made my decision, and I don't regret it!! I really believe that we need to work with our Doctors to educate them - but I appreciate that some have Dinosaurs - I am really lucky there! But if my Doctors decide to listen, read etc and then write papers...... Who knows!
Anne
